East Africa: PM Nsengiyumva Calls for Fresh Push to Unlock EAC Trade

What the report says

Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva used the opening of the 26th East African Community (EAC) Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Trade Fair in Kigali on Tuesday, Nov. 3, to press partner states to do more for small businesses. Speaking at the event at Gikondo Expo Grounds, he argued that regional integration should be judged by whether it helps entrepreneurs find customers, source inputs and move goods more easily across borders.

According to The New Times, Nsengiyumva said many MSMEs still face hurdles including limited access to affordable finance, weak logistics, customs delays and non-tariff barriers. He called for simpler customs procedures, better transport links, wider trade finance and stronger use of digital platforms and payment systems. He also highlighted the role of leather and horticulture value chains, saying more processing and manufacturing could help businesses move beyond raw materials.

Other officials at the fair echoed the push for deeper regional trade. EAC Deputy Secretary General Annettee Mutaawe Ssemuwemba said the bloc has made progress in reducing border delays and improving transit times, while Trade and Industry Minister Antoine Marie Kajangwe urged firms to look beyond national markets and build lasting commercial links across the EAC’s more than 300 million consumers. The fair also included a focus on women traders and the challenge of language barriers in cross-border business.